As I sit at my keyboard today, we have observed the rites and heard the familiar words that marked Palm Sunday. We have entered into this Holy Week that will be like no other in our shared living memory.

     While adjusting the appointments and décor in St. Peter’s Church for the nature of these days, I am all too aware, as are you, that we are not able this year to put the final touch to complete these efforts. As I have taken a moment to sit in the Presidential Chair to take in the view, you are not and cannot be there. And for the sake of reaching as many of you as is possible under the circumstances, I will be at St. Patrick’s in Whitinsville. Several of our Lector’s, Proclaimers of the Word from St. Peter’s will be among the liturgical ministers for the great liturgies of the Sacred Triduum and it will be my privilege to be the main celebrant on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Whether in that role or concelebrating with Fr. Tomasz Borkowski, Pastor of St. Patrick’s, I will see you in my heart when I look out into the seemingly empty pews.

     From the events recounted on Palm Sunday through those that occurred later and are recounted in these most sacred of days, the Disciples of Jesus were at times fearful, at times confused, and at others elated because they thought they finally “got it.”

     While the circumstances of Roman occupation and the jealousy and fear of their own religious leaders made these missteps and failure to truly understand inevitable, they weren’t the last word. While the circumstances through which we are living can make us feel disconnected and absent, they are NOT the last word. We continue to support each now as we can. We see each other in our hearts as we can. We know that final word, in which we “get it” is Christ victorious, our Easter, our joy, our hope!